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Updated 9/5/2025
Transition Terms
Definitions and resources for words related to students with disabilities moving from school to adult life
When students receive high school special education services beyond the typical 4 years due to unmet graduation requirements or transition needs stated in the student’s IEP.
ADA
Americans with Disabilities Act is a federal civil rights law for people with disabilities.
The legal age when a person is no longer a minor and has the rights and responsibilities to make certain legal adult decisions, including ones related to the IEP process (age 18 in Iowa).
CAP
Client Assistance Program is a state program assisting individuals who have conflicts with programs funded under the Rehabilitation Act including: Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services, Iowa Department for the Blind, Centers for Independent Living and other Rehabilitation Act funded agencies.
CCO
Consumer Choice Options is an Iowa Medicaid program that allows individuals who are eligible for waiver services more control over how their services are provided, by hiring their own employees or purchasing their services.
CIL
Centers for Independent Living supports community living and independence for people with disabilities with resources and services to integrate people with disabilities fully into their communities.
CRP
Community Rehabilitation Providers assist people with disabilities with skill development to help them get a job.
A legal proceeding that arranges for a person (a conservator) to make certain decisions about the property for a person whose decision making abilities have been determined insufficient or unsafe. *See also Guardianship
services provided by community rehabilitation providers that support a consumer in developing or maintaining life skills and community integration.
The decision a person makes to explain their disability and its impact on their life.
DRI
Disability Rights Iowa is a legally based organized that aims to defend and promote the human and legal rights of Iowans who have disabilities and mental illness.
Homes in the community where a service provider maintains the household and coordinates supports for the people with disabilities living in the home.
A legal proceeding that arranges for a person (a guardian) to make certain decisions for another person (called a protected person). *See also Conservator
HCBS
Home and Community Based Services are also called “waivers”. Iowa has seven different waivers that provide service funding and supports to assist members to stay in their own homes rather than a medical institution.
A community-based housing option where people with disabilities live in a private, family home where they receive waiver services and participate in family and community life.
IDB
Iowa Department for the Blind is a state agency that assists individuals with blindness or other visual impairments with employment, independent living, access to information and opportunities. (This agency is the counterpart to IVRS.)
IEP
An Individualized Education Program is an individualized plan for Special Education services for students with disabilities in K-12 education.
ISP
Individualized Service Plans document the HCBS waiver services and supports a member will receive.
IVRS
Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services assists people with disabilities to prepare for, obtain and retain employment.
IWD
Iowa Workforce Development is a state agency providing employment services for job seekers.
A person who provides assistance to an individual with a disability to learn or maintain a job. This can include training and support at the job site.
MCO
Managed Care Organizations provide health care services to eligible Medicaid members including HCBS waiver services.
PASS
Plan for Achieving Self-Support is an SSI work incentive that allows a person with a disability to set aside income and/or resources for a specific time in order to achieve a work goal.
PLAAFP
Present Levels of Academic Achievement & Functional Performance is a statement in the IEP summarizing current academic levels and skills to provide the foundation for all program decisions.
Pre-ETS
Pre-Employment Transition Services are provided to students by schools and IVRS under WIOA including: Job Exploration, Work Based Learning, Opportunity Counseling, Workplace Readiness Training, and Self-Advocacy Instruction.
PSS
Summary for Post-Secondary Living, Learning and Working A summary of a student’s academic achievement and functional skills, including how to assist the student meeting post-secondary goals.
SAR
Support for Accommodations Request is a document used to ask for accommodations in college. It documents accommodations that assisted the student in achieving goals.
Secondary and Post-Secondary Education
Secondary education is provided in high school. Post-secondary refers to education or training after a student leaves high school.
Self-Advocacy
The skill of communicating one’s own thoughts, gaining information, building relationships and solving problems.
A term that refers to the non-technical skills that impact how a person works. For example, communication, attention, problem solving and time management skills.
SSDI
Social Security Disability Insurance A federal program that pays benefits to workers and certain family members if they have worked long enough and paid Social Security taxes.
SSI
Supplemental Security Income is a federal program that provides people with disabilities and who are low-income monthly cash assistance for food, clothing and shelter needs.
is a federal program for people who receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits and would like to gain financial independence through employment.
A website for youth with disabilities, families and the professionals who support them through transition to adult life from high school.
A setting where people with disabilities work together and receive support in a small group. Also known as “511 certificate holders” referenced in WIOA.
is an alternative to guardianship that allows individuals with disabilities to make choices about their own lives with support from a team of people they choose.
A model of work that supports people with disabilities to succeed in a competitive work environment.
WIOA
Workforce Innovation and Opportunities Act is a federal law that requires job skills development for people with disabilities with the goal of competitive integrative employment.
WIPA
Work Incentives Planning and Assistance program provides information and counseling to help people with disabilities understand how job earnings impact SSI/SSDI income and healthcare benefits.